Happy Birthday, Sweetie "Pi"

Sunday, March 14, aka "pi" day, was our little Lydia's FIRST birthday! What a year it has been, and oh how we love this amazing sweet girl.

I've loved her from the beginning. The first three months and even beyond that, though, I admit there were days when honestly I did well to tolerate her. Acid reflux made her face turn red and the screaming commence whenever I put her down. Diaper changing was dreaded, and sleeping was non-existent. She despised swaddling, pacifiers and the baby swing. She grew out of her tummy issues, and on came the ear infections, finally remedied by the wonders of modern medicine. Everything I thought I knew about caring for an infant were challenged. every. day.

That said, I grew ever closer to her and was awed by her strength and sweetness in the few quiet moments we enjoyed together. I learned to seek out the goodness rather than expect it, and that was good for me. Endurance and unconditional love have brought me through the difficult times, helped me appreciate the fun times, and my reward is the happiest, most content, loveable girl. I am completely enamored by her. She's a girl who knows what she wants and will do just about anything to get it. Like her mom, she is curious but "cautiously adventurous." Content to observe, she is happy to watch life unfold before her and jump in and really participate when the urge bites. Just as there is a special, unique relationship between a mother and son, or father and son, so exists one just as special but different in so many ways between a daughter and both of her parents. I see myself in her, but I see her own personality forming on its own, and it makes me excited to witness her "becoming." You've come a long way, baby. We all have.

To celebrate, we had a little party on Saturday to celebrate her entrance into the "birthday by years" versus the "birthday by months" club. Since you should be able to do whatever you want on your birthday, here's what she chose to do for fun:

And here she is waiting hanging out with Daddy...

...and waiting for her party guests to arrive.

The spread of delights, using two things I don't get out very often...my Sandstone serving dishes and the cheery Sudoku harvest tablecloth I made.

Here's my take, ahem, attempt at petit fours - more of a glorified cupcake instead of a perfect little iced confection. Still, they tasted yummy!

Let the fun begin!

(Remainder of photos courtesy of Jason - thank you, oh talented and generous one!)

Sweet! My own phone! I thought I'd have to wait another 15 birthdays to get one of these. What's this? No texting?

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Here, little sis. Let me show you how it's done.

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I must give kisses to every present so the givers will know just how much I love them!

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Yay for me!

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Blowing kisses to her adoring fans:

mmm...

...mwhah!

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Cake time!

One candle for one special girl

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I'm goin' in.

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Yay for sugar! If you think I'm done, well I'm just getting started!

Trying to be as ladylike as possible.

Happy birthday, sweet Lydia. You are loved by many.

Brave little one

Big day today! Bright and early this morning, Lydia and I made a trip to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle to get tubes put in her ears. We've endured 7 months of ear pulling, discomfort, and 6 rounds of different antibiotics to clear up infections, and a myringotomy seemed to be the most promising, long-term solution. The team of doctors and nurses (especially this special person) ensured the utmost confidence that my sweet baby would be cared for and made well again for the short time she was in their care. Here she is in pre-op wearing her stylishly-tiny hospital "dress."

(I'm easily distracted by shoes and shiny, spinny things)

(Still hangin' on to the shoe and my favorite toy Mom brought from home)

(OK now I suspect something's up)

She came out of the anesthesia very well, and I held her until she was fully awake and ready to get dressed and go home. All in all, the whole experience was less than 3 hours (including admitting, waiting, consultations, waiting, procedure, waiting, discharge).


And this was our super happy little sweetheart later in the day. She still plays with her ears a little bit, partly because of the slight discomfort at the incision site and partly because it's a new sensation for her to be unclogged and hearing better than she has in her whole 11 1/2 months of life! Here's looking forward to pain-free ears and a little girl returning to her sweet, happy self!

Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference

Please join me in the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge! More info over at my other blog.

my first tutorial

For those of you who haven't heard about it, or haven't had a chance to visit, I'm participating in another blog with a community of friends. I posted my first tutorial for this little number (the skirt, not the baby - you're on your own for that) at http://lovelypraiseworthy.blogspot.com/.


Check it out and let me know what you think!

To nap or not to nap?

That is the big question around our house after the last few days. Seth has been a good napper for a long time, but lately it's getting harder and later to get him down for a nap. So, after over an hour of listening to him play in his (and Lydia's) room yesterday instead of resting, I went in to find all of his stuffed animals AND both pillows AND himself in the crib with Lydia...she wasn't too happy to have her turf invaded.

So, is he done with naps? Maybe we should stop forcing it and start putting him to bed an hour earlier. I ask myself, "Could it be that he doesn't need naps anymore?" Then, after excusing himself from the dinner table (around 5:00) to go potty, this is what we found:

Yes, his Spiderman underwear is on backwards, and when we tried to help him up, he was temporarily unable to speak in complete sentences. (insert Matt and me laughing at the sight before us) Clearly, yes, he needs his naps, but how do we get him to rest? Once he does settle down and nod off, it's late in the afternoon, and I wake him up if it's 4:30 and he's still sleeping, and it's hello Mr. Crabby Pants for the evening. What to do? Any advice from those of you who've been there & done that?

Jesus Wants *Seth* for a Sun-BEAM!

Yesterday was my boy's first Sunday in Primary, and he was perfectly happy to say goodbye to the Nursery. We sang the Hello Song and Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam to welcome the newest members of the Primary. I spent the last week or so preparing him by letting him know there were no toys or snacks, but he gets to sing songs and have a lesson and maybe occasionally play a game. He even volunteered to say the opening prayer and was disappointed when he wasn't chosen...maybe next week. I'm the Primary pianist, and I sit right by his class and couldn't help glancing out of the corner of my eye to see what he was doing. What a good little listener, and he obeyed his teacher too. He's a little sunbeam to our family!

2009 Santa story

For your reading pleasure, a narration of last night's Santa experience:

Lydia: I'm not so sure about this, but I don't think I like it. And why on earth am I wearing so many stripes??

Seth: I practiced all day what I would say to Santa, and now all I can do is stand here with my hand in my mouth.

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Lydia: Oh, wow. Mom's making a fool of herself off to the side so I'll stop crying.

Seth: Same as last photo.

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Lydia: Wow, Mom's still at it. I don't think I've ever seen her jump up and down, clap her hands and whistle all at the same time.

Seth: Now I have a candy cane, but I can't make myself look at Santa yet.

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Lydia: OK, if Mom's over there, who's holding me?

Seth: I'm contemplating talking to Santa. Should I or shouldn't I?

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Lydia: OK, nice try distracting me, Mom. Get me away from this guy!

Seth: Boy, this candy cane sure looks good. OK here's the plan. Just before we walk out the door, I'll tell Santa thank you for the candy cane and that I want a red fire truck for Christmas. Whew!

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The End